Synthesis and characterization of (CH3C(CH2PPh2)(3))RhH(eta(2)-C-60)

Abstract

The title complex, (triphos)RhH(eta(2)-C-60) (2) (triphos = CH3C(CH2PPh2)(3)), was prepared by the reaction (80 degrees C, toluene) of C-60 with a trihydride rhodium complex (triphos)RhH3 (1) in high yield (86%) as green crystals and characterized by spectroscopic (mass, H-1-, P-31-, and C-13-NMR) and analytical data. The molecular structure of 2 was determined by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The rhodium atom is octahedrally coordinated by three fac-phosphorus atoms, a hydrogen atom and an eta(2)-C-60 ligand. The cyclic voltammetric study of 2 reveals two reversible redox waves which are shifted to more negative potentials by ca. 290 mV compared to free C-60, reflecting both metal-to-C-60 pi-back-donation effect and the electron-donating nature of the triphos ligand. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.